Alternative medicine has gained in popularity as more people look for drug-free solutions to their health problems. The popularity of this form of medicine has also been fuelled by the search for alternative forms of health treatment that are more holistic and come with fewer side effects than what conventional medicine has to offer.
With this in mind, what can alternative medicine treat as it has been touted to be effective in the treatment of a variety of health problems such as chronic pain, anxiety, allergies, and even digestive disorders?
Chronic pain is one of the most common of all health issues facing people today. It can affect any age group and have multiple causes, such as injuries caused by accidents or diseases of the bones and joints.
This condition is also one of the hardest to treat safely with conventional medicine, mainly since it involves taking painkillers of various strengths. These come with an array of side effects, such as addiction and digestive upset. Some painkillers can cause serious damage to the digestive system, leading to the need for urgent medical attention.
However, alternative medicine has slowly gained a reputation for successfully and safely treating chronic pain. Techniques such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy can provide natural pain relief for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lower back pain.
Many individuals suffer bouts of anxiety and depression regularly. Triggers are mostly medical conditions and life events that are beyond an individual’s control, such as bereavement and illness.
Conventional medicine can help with both of these conditions but involves taking anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs long-term. This type of medication has been associated with various unwanted side effects that have led sufferers to seek out alternative forms of treatment.
Alternative medicine offers various approaches to managing anxiety and depression. Practices like meditation, hypnosis, yoga, and aromatherapy can help promote relaxation, reduce symptoms of anxiety, and improve overall mood. Hypnosis and meditation, in particular, can help to prevent negative thoughts from controlling anxiety and depression sufferers.
Insomnia can lead to multiple health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Sleep is vital for good health as it rests the body and mind and aids immunity.
There are various causes of insomnia, but conventional medicine mostly only counteracts the inability to sleep with the use of sleeping tablets.
Alternative medicine uses a combination of therapies such as herbal remedies, hypnosis, meditation, and acupuncture to relax both mind and body, and most treatments come with far fewer side effects than long-term sleeping tablet use.
Digestive disorders are often complex and hard to treat; again, the causes of such issues are many. Poor diet, gut bacteria imbalances, and emotional stress are just a few examples of triggers that can manifest in various symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Conventional medicine offers a limited choice of therapies for digestive health conditions.
However, natural remedies like probiotics, herbal teas, and acupuncture can help improve gut health and alleviate digestive discomfort.
Allergies affect millions of people across the globe, and triggers are mostly from foods, chemical pollutants, and plant pollens in the atmosphere. Conventional treatment usually involves the use of antihistamines.
Alternative medicine combines acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary changes to help reduce allergy sufferer’s symptoms.
Alternative medicine offers alternative approaches to treating headaches and migraines. Techniques such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and herbal remedies can provide relief from recurring headaches and migraines. All are safer options than long-term painkiller use.
Some alternative medicine therapies, such as chiropractic adjustments, can address the root cause of persistent headaches and considerably lower the number and severity of episodes.